Fuel cell

Abstract

A fuel cell and a method of operating said fuel cell, which fuel cell comprises an anode having a catalyst adsorbed thereon, said catalyst comprising a hydrogenase which is in direct electronic contact with the anode.

1 . A method of operating a fuel cell, which method comprises oxidising hydrogen at an anode having a catalyst adsorbed thereon, said catalyst comprising a hydrogenase which is in direct electronic contact with the anode.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenase contains an [Ni—Fe] active site.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogenase is  Allochromatium vinosum  [Ni—Fe] hydrogenase.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is coated on the anode using a polycationic substance as adhesive.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said polycationic substance is polymixin.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least 50% of the hydrogenase is in its active form.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the partial pressure of hydrogen at the anode is greater than 1×10 4  Pa.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is maintained at a temperature of at least 30EC.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the current produced by the fuel cell is greater than 1 mA per cm 2  of surface area of said electrode.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least a part of the surface of the anode is made of graphite.  
     
     
         11 . A fuel cell comprising an anode having a catalyst adsorbed thereon, said catalyst being as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A fuel cell according to  claim 11  wherein at least a part of the surface of the anode is made of graphite.